Open for the Season: The Old Mill Inn is Back in Biz

With a new menu featuring signature local fresh seafood and produce and a few new surprises from chef Saul Flores, the in Mattituck is ready to serve some great food and drink during its opening 2012 weekend starting Friday afternoon.

Co-owner Barbara Pepe said that she and her business partners Bia Lowe and Elaine Lafferty have been busy during the month of April, fixing parts of the Inn’s back dining deck that had been damaged in Tropical Storm Irene last year and performing other small renovations to the historic building, built in 1821 as a tidal gristmill.

She added that chef Flores tweaked their diverse menu slightly to include unique dishes such as pea coconut soup, a veggie burger and a salmon burger.

“We’re also bringing back house favorites like the dollar oysters at the bar from 3 to 5 p.m.,” she said.

For opening weekend, the restaurant will kick off Cinco de Mayo a week early with rare tequilas at the bar and Mexican specials. Pepe said that she’s been booking live music for the season and that Nona Hendryx, who sang with the R&B super group LaBelle, has been confirmed for a July 21 performance.

“The big names are rolling in, and you never know just who will show up here,” said Pepe, who owns the restaurant with famed Fox News Channel personality Greta Van Susteren.

The owners will once again team with party-boat captain Bob Ceglowski to provide sunset dinner cruises on the Mattituck Inlet every Wednesday and Sunday night during the warmer months. This Friday, the bar opens at 3 p.m. and dinner service begins at 5 p.m. The Old Mill Inn will be open Fridays Saturdays and Sundays through Memorial Day Weekend, after which point the hours will spread into the week as well.

For more information, call 631-298-8080 or go to the Old Mill Inn’s website.